Our much-loved lakeside destination is back, following a full refurbishment, sustainable redesign and a brand-new name; the Boathouse Café (formerly the Lakeside Café).

Nestled within the spectacular parkland of Alexandra Palace, and overlooking the iconic lake, the Boathouse Café is one of the park’s most scenic locations. It offers a relaxed and welcoming space to enjoy great food and drink, right at the heart of the local community.

The boating lake has long been the backdrop to some of Alexandra Park and Palace’s most memorable moments. Over the years it has hosted firework displays reflected on the water, a village built on stilts, and even a miniature railway, that once circled its perimeter in the 1950s and 1960s.

Today, the lake remains a favourite place to relax and gather, as well as a spot for wildlife watching and pedalo adventures. Its rich heritage is celebrated in the café’s refurbished interior, with a curated gallery charting the Park and Palace’s journey over more than 150 years, allowing visitors to dine surrounded by stories from Ally Pally’s past and present.

The café’s redesign draws inspiration from nature, creating a calming atmosphere that places the surrounding landscape front and centre. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame stunning lakeside views, complemented by thoughtful finishes throughout.

Sustainability has been a key focus of the project, from hemp grasscloth wallcoverings to upcycled counters and self-serve stations, reducing the need for new raw materials, while giving existing features a new lease of life.

Run by the in-house Ally Pally catering team, the Boathouse Café is a new addition to its existing food and drinks offer, complementing the East Court Café and Phoenix Bar and Pizzeria.

The café serves a varied menu, including the much-loved ‘Ally Pally Breakfast’, plant-powered options, a children’s menu, brunch and lunch dishes, hot sandwiches and burgers, cakes, snacks, and a wide selection of hot and cold drinks. Takeaway options are also available for those on the go.

Visitors can also shop for local products, including honey from Muswell Hill’s Lee Bennett Honey, supporting local producers, alongside the Trust’s charitable mission.

Alex Traynor-Thorne, Head of Catering at Alexandra Park and Palace says; “The Boathouse Café has always been a much-loved destination in the park and reopening it as a Trust-run café is incredibly exciting. We want it be somewhere that people can come together for great food and drink, and beautiful views, and a real sense of community and place.” 

The boating lake remains one of Alexandra Park’s most cherished features. From April to October, visitors can take to the water in pedalos, whilst all-year-round, the lake provides a peaceful home for a wide range of birdlife.

Regular sightings include cormorants, grey herons, tufted ducks, greylag geese, coots and moorhens, alongside now familiar visitors such as Egyptian geese and gulls. Sharp-eyed visitors might even spot a sparrowhawk, a reminder of the lake’s importance as an urban wildlife habitat.

With step-free access, toilets on site, and additional outdoor seating, the Boathouse Café is open:

Monday – Sunday 9am-4pm
Food served 9am-3pm
Card payments only
Dogs welcome (on a lead)

As a Charitable Trust, income from our café helps to restore the Palace, care for the park and grow our learning and skills programmes with local communities; so, whether you’re navigating the boating lake, enjoying the Park, or simply looking for a great place to eat or drink, the Boathouse Café is for you.

Find out more about the Boathouse Café and how you can support Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust .